Communication Quatuor Ludwig

Mozart : Quatuor K 458 « La chasse » 25’

Mozart : Quatuor dit “Milanais” K 159 13’

Schubert : 13ème quatuor « Rosamunde »

Origins and Growth

Founded in 1985 after winning first prizes with distinction at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris, the Ludwig Quartet went on to join the advanced string quartet program under the guidance of Bruno Pasquier. The ensemble also benefited from the advice of conductor Sergiu Celibidache and worked closely with the Berg, Tokyo, Amadeus, LaSalle, and Kolish Quartets.

After receiving awards at numerous international competitions (Menuhin Foundation, Portsmouth Competition, Arthur Honegger Competition, and the Vittorio Gui Competition in Florence), the Ludwig Quartet was invited to spend a year at Yale University with the Tokyo Quartet, before being appointed Quartet-in-Residence at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris.

Over 30 Years of Concerts and Passion

Over the years, the Ludwig Quartet has been invited to perform in prestigious venues around the world, including the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, the Opéra Comique, the Cité de la Musique, the Musée d’Orsay, the Orangerie de Sceaux, the Cziffra Auditorium at La Chaise-Dieu, Wigmore Hall in London, Merkin Hall in New York, the National Theatre in Taipei, and the National Theatre in Shanghai. On tour, the ensemble has performed throughout Europe, the United States, Canada, Japan, New Caledonia, Korea, the Middle East, Africa, and India.

In recognition of their outstanding achievements, the founding members of the Ludwig Quartet were appointed Knights of the Order of Arts and Letters.

Leaving Their Mark

The Ludwig Quartet has built an extensive discography that has received numerous awards, including the Grand Prix du Disque Lyrique, the Grand Prix de l’Académie du Disque Français, the Grand Prix International du Disque of the Académie Charles Cros, and the Grand Prix du Midem. Their most recent release, Carnet de Voyage, was issued in 2018 on the Ameson label.

New Paths and New Voices

With a curious approach to contemporary repertoire, the Ludwig Quartet has premiered many works in collaboration with composers such as Thierry Escaich, Philippe Hersant, Michael Lévinas, Alain Louvier, and Ivan Jevtic.

The ensemble is deeply committed to collaborating with other musicians on stage, including Abdel Rahman El Bacha, François-René Duchâble, Marie-Josèphe Jude, Anne Quéffélec, Dana Ciocarlie (piano), as well as Emmanuelle Bertrand (cello) and Christophe Gaugué (viola).

Since its founding, the Ludwig Quartet—pioneers in this genre—has conceived and produced text-and-music performances in collaboration with outstanding actors such as Marie-Christine Barrault, Michel Bouquet, Fanny Cottençon, Jean-François Balmer, François Marthouret, Didier Sandre, and Nicolas Vaude. This distinctive approach to performances with actors enables the Ludwig Quartet to reach a broader, less specialized audience.

Sharing and Passing On

When not on stage, the Ludwig Quartet is deeply committed to teaching, offering numerous masterclasses and educational projects for conservatories, as well as for wider audiences unfamiliar with musical practice. The ensemble is also frequently invited to mentor young professional quartets.

The musicians of the Ludwig Quartet are united by a profound love of chamber music, which they passionately champion around the world in pursuit of an ever-elusive ideal.

The Ludwig Quartet gratefully acknowledges the support of Spedidam.